Mar 22 β€’ 22:00 UTC πŸ‡¦πŸ‡· Argentina La Nacion (ES)

He worked at a school in New Jersey and must repay more than $137,000 for overtime he billed

Anthony DeLuca, a former official in a New Jersey school district, is required to repay over $137,000 for fraudulent overtime claims approved with a colleague's complicity.

Anthony DeLuca, aged 64, worked within the Hillsborough Public Schools system in New Jersey, which serves students from preschool through 12th grade. He has been implicated in submitting fraudulent overtime claims for nearly three years, resulting in an order from the U.S. Department of Justice to repay over $137,000. The fraudulent activity was facilitated by a colleague who approved the incorrect claims from inside the administrative system.

The investigation revealed that DeLuca's misconduct was systematic, with claims spanning multiple years, indicating a significant breach of trust within the district. His role as the buildings director would have given him access to manipulate overtime records, further complicating the oversight and accountability mechanisms that should have been in place. The involvement of another staff member who approved these claims points to potential systemic issues in checks and balances in the district's financial controls.

The repercussions for DeLuca extend beyond financial repayment, as such a conviction can lead to further legal ramifications, including potential criminal charges. This case highlights concerns around financial oversight in educational institutions, particularly regarding how trust is often placed in individuals in administrative roles and the importance of implementing rigorous auditing practices to prevent similar abuses in the future.

πŸ“‘ Similar Coverage